If you’ve heard rumblings about a potential new International Game Fish Association (IGFA) world record weakfish caught from Staten Island’s Raritan Bay surf, you’ve heard about the real deal. The 19-pound, 12-ounce brute was beached by angler Dave Alu (left in the photo), from Jackson, N.J., at 2 a.m. on Wednesday, May 7.
“It was just a magnificent fish,” said Alu's guide, Captain Rich Swisstack, Jr., of Shore Catch Guide Service (www.shorecatch.com). “We were targeting stripers with bunker chunks but my partner, Dave Torrick, and I, knew some really big weakfish were around because we had caught and released several 11- to 15-pound monsters during the past week. Still, I never expected to see one this big!”
According to Swisstack, 40, from Clark, NJ, the big weak took a bunker head and fought like a striped bass. When it first rolled in the surf after the 15-minute battle, it didn’t look like a weakfish at all.
“The head on that fish was so large,” explained Swisstack (right in photo), “that I thought we had a red drum. As I lifted it from the water, it seemed to grow bigger and rounder. The body shape appeared more like a king salmon than a weak.”
Swisstack cradled the fish in his arms and carried it up the beach. When the huge weak pulled the scale on his fish gripper past the 19-pound mark, Swisstack began to realize the enormity of the trophy. Goose bumps on his arms, he held the lunker for the lucky fisherman to examine. Alu, who has fished from boats for over 30 years but was on his very first surf fishing expedition, was amazed to see a weakfish so large. After taking a long look, he smiled and suggested the fish be released. A short discussion ensued, the decision was reversed, and the pair headed off to record an official weight at The Tackle Box in Hazlet, NJ, when the shop opened around 6:00 a.m. They later recorded an identical weight at Michael’s Tackle in Great Kills, NY.
“I was completely shocked at the size of that weakfish,” said Alu, 38, “but I didn’t realize it might break the world record. Rich and I worked hard to pick the right night to get out. I guess being patient and playing the tides really paid off because we also caught six bass with three stretching the tape past 40 inches.”
Swisstack noted that Alu did a nice job of fighting the big weak, making all the right moves at the right times. “I’m just thrilled to be involved in the catch,” he added. “My dad, Rich Swisstack, Sr., was probably as happy as me and Dave when he found out. He taught me most of what I know about fishing – including how to find the fish. I just want to tell him, ‘Thanks.’”
For the record, the big weak was caught with a 10’ St. Croix spinning rod, Diawia Emblem Pro 5500 reel, and 30-pound test, yellow Super Braid line. The IGFA filing will be submitted soon. If the big fish is accepted, it will displace the current record holders. That’s right holders: two are tied at 19 pounds, 2 ounces. The first was caught in Jones Inlet by Dennis Rooney on Oct. 11, 1984. The latter was pulled from Delaware Bay, by William Thomas, on May 10, 1989.
(Captain Rich "Swiss" Swisstack, Jr., shows off a potential IGFA world record weakfish caught from the shore of Raritan Bay by Dave Alu. The huge tiderunner weighed in at 19 pounds, 12 ounces -- Photos courtesy of Alberto Knie and Shore Catch Guide Service)